Advent O COME O COME EMANUEL

Luke 2:25-35

12 .1 0 .17

SUMMARY
The Advent is a message often characterized with meek and mild tones. A message which
comes around once a year and yet it's powerful voice can be muted in the redundancy and
commercialism. But when the prophecy of Simeon, known as the Nunc Dimittis (Latin for
'now you dismiss'), was given it was a cataclysmic announcement. Not since the prophet
Malachi had the Holy Spirit spoken and his return would signify the Messianic age. In this
passage the Holy Spirit spoke through Simeon in both prayer and prophecy as a sign of the
child he had before him. Jesus was the answer to Israel's prayer expressing the joy of the
arrival of the Messiah coming to the world. The redemption Israel longed for was real and
the Gentiles would receive the light of his truth. But the other side of this Messianic hope
was the prophecy Jesus would fulfill through conflict and difficulty. A prophecy which
showed the Messiah would be a stumbling block, attacked and rejected. The redemption
this child would bring would not be welcomed by many and cost him his life. But this is what
CH Spurgeon said when he was described Jesus as the "Heir of all things, and yet the
carpenter’s despised son." He is the answer to our prayers and the fulfillment of the
prophecy we desperately need. When we sing O Come Immanuel, we are crying out the
reality of his coming as our answer and fulfillment in flesh. A reality that Jesus was born a
child and yet a king being prepared for his mission. The mission to 'ransom captive Israel',
and rescue us back to himself.

QUOTES & THOUGHTS FROM THE SERMON

“The hands that had made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the
cattle. . . . And God who had been only a circumference was seen as a center.”
- G. K. Chesterton

“Infinite and yet an infant.

Eternal and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman’s breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"That man should be made in God's image is a wonder,

but that God should be made in man's image is a greater wonder.
That the Ancient of Days would be born.
That He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle?"
- Thomas Watson
GROUP QUESTIONS

From the sermon or your direct reading of Luke 2.25-35, share something that surprises,
encourages, or challenges you.

Which of the ‘Quotes and Thoughts from the Sermon’ (see above) surprises, encourages,
or challenges you the most, and why?

How does Simeon's prayer encourage you toward who Jesus is as the Messiah? How does
he answer the prayers that we have of him? How can it shape our prayers in our
relationship to Him?

How does the prophecy of Simeon sit with you? How does it cause you to see Jesus as the
Messiah? Why is this fulfillment so crucial to our redemption?

How might the following Scriptures, taken together with Luke 2:25-35, help us further
understand the teaching of Scripture?

Lev. 12:1 Gal. 4:4 Isaiah 40:1-2 Matt. 21:44 I Peter 2:8-9 I Cor. 1.23-24

C LO S E I N P R AY E R
Consider using I Corinthians 1:23-24 as the basis of your prayer.